The Oakland Raiders and controversy go hand in hand. And the 2008 NFL season was no different. Coach Lane Kiffin was fired in a crazy press conference. The team is still in control of none other than Al Davis, but will he find a way to get his magic back? All of the fans in Raiders nation, wearing their black and silver Oakland Raiders apparel certainly hope so.

The bright news for the Oakland Raiders is that they have a couple of extremely talented and young players on the offensive side of the ball. Although he didn't play at all in his rookie season, number one pick JaMarcus Russell has a cannon for an arm and plenty of potential. He needs to improve his accuracy and his play-reading.

Obviously everyone with Oakland Raiders apparel on is hoping Russell pulls through, but he still has a lot to prove. He'll also have to fight for the starting job against quarterback Jeff Garcia, the consistent veteran.

Their draft choice from last season, Darren McFadden has the ability to be one of the best running backs in the league. Now they drafted speedster Darrius Heyward-Bey as an additional deep threat. In addition, their defense can be tough when they have their act together, with overlooked players such as cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. He's one of the more talented cornerbacks in the league, and his huge salary shows that.

Now the team has traded for former New England Patriots defensive lineman Richard Seymour. Seymour will serve to make an immediate impact in filling the holes in a running defense and pressuring the quarterback effectively in passing situations.

Oakland Raiders jerseys will always be popular no matter how the team does on the field. The fan base is rabid and rowdy, and there is no deterring them. But they sure would like to be rooting for a winner, or at least for a team that didn't shoot itself in the foot with so much drama and controversy. The talent is there in many places, can the team get their act together?

Whether you're trying to find some hardcore Raiders gear for a trek to the Black Hole, or you are looking for something else like an Oakland Raiders sweatshirt or Oakland Raiders watch, we have everything you need here in the Discount Football Merchandise Oakland Raiders store.